One of the things I hoped to do with the blog is ensure that good thought provoking writing was shared from other places related to The Clash. Here’s an example as Gigdoggy has written a great synopsis of The Libertines which orbits around just one song ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’, definitely worth a read.

Mick and the Likely Lads

I really enjoyed The Libertines and was more than a bit peeved when they imploded. Although the writing was on the wall I still hoped that something would make them realise that it was worth fixing the (huge) range of issues and inner conflict. It wasn’t to be of course but for 2 great albums and a short short spell they were making some great music. The Clash connection via Mick Jones as producer (and minder and PR) is well documented and the influence is debatable. At times they do capture similar sparks that were the trademark of the Clash yet a new setting. There were elements of a cavalier and cartoonish sort of portrayal of living as likely lads (chancers) in modern day London and England. Much like The Clash I think the time capsule of when they actually wrote will be forever linked to the band’s mystique. When I first heard them the press were telling me it’s like a ‘new clash’ or ‘punk reignited’ once I got beyond that and listened with a cleaner slate I appreciated them significantly more.

Rough Trade’s Geoff Travis and Jeanette Lee:
“The Libertines were the best and most influential band of the last decade, please forget the hype and just listen to the music.”

Continued debate about them reforming stirs and although the window is open due to lack of time passing (it’s less than 5 years since they split) I’m not sure that they can revisit what they were. Nor is there anything to indicate that the furrows that caused the split are any less deep in 2009. The correlation to The Clash in terms of the breakup are similar also, it’s a crying shame that Joe Strummer wasn’t able to move on to making new records as soon as Barat and Doherty.

On a final note it seems logical to assume that working with The Libertines sparked the return of Mick Jones to the industry. I need to research if that logic applies, assuming it does then cheers to Carl, Pete, John and Gary.

Morning, I hear it’s raining and not too summery back in London today, you lucky bleeders. Before my Clash update I wanted to share this article about Afghanistan with you from the Times. Are there any right thinking individuals out there that think this is suddenly going to become easier? Does anyone in a position of power even own a history book? Obviously the situation is far more complex than I’m going to dig  into within this forum, but who are ‘we’ trying to make safer? Moderation might not be in vogue, but is that because it might prove that the current path is rutted with holes?

Belfast 1977

Right, on to other matters. Stiff Little Fingers were one of the better bands to emerge from the spillage that the eruptions of 1976-7 caused. The impact of The Clash on the bandwas apparent in their sound and they were never shy about marrying political themes to their great guitar buzz.  In the 1970′s Belfast was a city under siege and the daily environment was a natural catalyst for SLF. I found this great interview with Henry Cluney from the band last night, the memories of those indulgent times are pondered and it’s great to see him still performing.

An Alternative Ulster
Grab it and change it it’s yours
Get an Alternative Ulster
Ignore the bores and their laws

Looks to be 100% that Mick Jones will be appearing at the JGD event with Billy Bragg tomorrow. It kicks off at 2pm and its free.

If London had McLaren and Rhodes then Manchester had Tony Wilson, but it also had Bruce Mitchell. Mitchell saw The Clash in their early days and his call to arms was complete. It can’t be overstated that in the days before myspace, MTV and 24 hour access to information having people such as Mitchell getting your name out there and gigs booked was a crucial element in terms of the punk scene and then the indie revolution that followed. The Guardian has a great feature on Mitchell today.

Right, I’m off for now enjoy your weekend wherever you are. Good hip hop in Islamabad?

Tim

Good evening all, part one of this one appears back on July 5 if you want to get current.

This night (May 9-1977) was the biggest platform yet for The Clash on the White Riot tour. What I still find berserk is the tour schedule,  the prior 2 nights were in Edinburgh and Manchester. Not that Britain is huge but that makes for some bad planning and a lot of driving. Considering the support bill of The Buzzcocks (at that stage less than a year playing live and one EP to their credit) and The Jam (debut single ‘In The City’ only 10 days old) it was a chance for the new breed to show what they could do.

According to Sounds the Buzzcocks were very focused, to the point where concentrating becomes the adjective used. Obviously playing within their limits but even as early as then the Manchester band has a fistful of great songs to belt out. What I’ve always loved about them is the initial simplicity of their song structures that is just simply propelled along with a buzz of angst. The band won the expectant audience over with a short tight set which left it open for The Jam.

Clash White Riot Tour 77

Sounds reports that interest in the stage was limited as the bar was doing very brisk trade, the writer also doesn’t understand why the front rows of seating were not removed. The Jam were apparently ‘flash, tight and energetic’ working through their set at full throttle just added to the event. I must admit that the Jam had amazing authority on stage – always a controlled and very inspired band who could literally assault you with sound and energy. Already finding their own live persona, they didn’t fail to make more inroads to riding what was to be  a comet of success for the three piece.

The writer from Sounds (Jon Savage) has some pedigree having seen The Clash earlier in Nov 76 and inferred prior to that also (?). You sense that he expected to be let down, for him the Rainbow may as well have been Wembley stadium such was the upgrade in stature and expectation for what was truly little more than a splinter scene the previous Autumn. He admitted that the raw fury of The Clash had captured his senses before and he waited to see if they could rise to this higher level.

They did.

Savage wrote that the band were much tighter than before without losing the critical rough edges so important in their ferocity. As soon as they hit the stage the entire  audience were focused on the top of the bill. A large 25 foot backdrop of the artwork (rear) of the new album adorns the stage and The Clash land in a wall of frenzy. London’s Burning kicked out and they were in their city, with their fans and celebrating (?) what was a shit time to be young and in the capital. Strummer has grown in stature, taking the role of front man to new levels and seizing the moment to be a part of the band and yet the M.C. of the whole event.

The writer goes on to explain that the band have improved in every way imaginable and Strummer taking the lead role seems to allow the others to better focus on what they do best. Topper Headon has now taken the job that was always his and concerns (based on my history lessons) that Paul was still learning bass seem unfounded. Even though this was at the zenith of what Punk was (first wave) it’s really funny to read Jon Savage saying the following “One neglected aspect, among the sociology and mythologizing of the album, was the playing. I mean, great rock ‘n’ roll, man!”

In truth it’s that brutal fact that ensured The Clash not only leaped over the barriers of 1976-77 and the chains of punk to loftier heights but also defines why we’re still discussing them. They were a brilliant Rock band (whatever that may mean). The piece of the event that is recorded in the books, 200 seats got ripped out and there was a lot of fighting. I’m sure worse was happening at Millwall and West Ham that very Spring, what the books should also report – The Clash were faced with their biggest hall to date and went out and owned it.

I’ll follow up with a conclusion to The Rainbow posts but close with a Jon Savage quote about that night.

Rock ‘n’ roll can be one of the few honest things left in this world.
Yes.
An event, a gathering of the clans.
Yes.

But it was all down to the Clash.
Yes.

Savage is a great writer and if you have never had a chance to read England’s Dreaming I suggest you try and track it down. Speaking of great writers from the good old days – I learned a little late about the sad loss of Steven Wells to cancer a week ago. He was a huge part of the NME and a superb music and in more recent years football journalist. He coined the word ‘saddo’, he didn’t play the industry game, he made a lot of people laugh, he was just 49.

Tim